The application of restorative material packed in blisters in cross infection control in restorative dentistry

Introduction. Dental procedures bear risk of pathogens transmission leading to cross--infection. Means of protection aim at preventing direct contact with patient’s infected tissues. Less attention is paid to indirect threats, such as the restorative material’s infection during treatment. Restorative materials portioned and packed in disposable blisters may effectively eliminate the risk of material’s contamination. Aim. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge and attitude of polish dental students on infection of dental restorative materials during treatment. Material and methods. A survey was conducted among students of the Faculty of Dentistry at the Medical University of Warsaw, who were given disposable packages of the restorative material for cavity reconstruction during practical classes. Results. All students gained theoretical knowledge on cross-infection control. Less than half declared need for more classes in this field. Almost all of them (96%) admitted that pathogens transmission may occur during restorative treatment where one spatula is used for both picking the material from the syringe and placing it in the cavity. Only 68% of them actually use separate instruments during restorative treatment. All of them think that packing of the material in separate blisters may increase safety during treatment through minimizing risk of the material contamination. Conclusions. Polish dental students need more classes concerning cross-infection control in restorative dentistry. Restorative materials packed in disposable blisters may increase patients safety during restorative treatment.